Split CDC into separate epidemiology-data and public-health-policy agencies
Mandate says CDC’s data-gathering and political recommendation roles conflict and should be firewalled into two agencies, with epidemiology required to publish all state/other data and policy advice severely confined.
Mandate
Mandate Ch. 14 (HHS) — CDC COVID and Structural Reform: split CDC into two entities—one national epidemiological agency required by law to publish all data gathered, and a separate public-health agency with severely confined ability to make policy recommendations; CDC should assess health costs/benefits but not social/political tradeoffs.
Undo plan
1) Rescind any reorganization that splits CDC’s epidemiological and guidance functions into firewalled agencies with crippled recommendation authority.
2) Restore CDC as a unified public-health science agency with transparent data release and accountable advisory roles to HHS/states.
3) Reissue clear statutory/regulatory boundaries so guidance is advisory to elected officials and clinicians, not a de facto mandate factory, without gutting CDC’s ability to issue evidence-based guidance.
4) Codify in appropriations/report language expectations for timely public release of epidemiological datasets with privacy protections.
5) Verify: GAO review of data-publication latency; public metrics on dataset release vs collection.